Registering device for sronges and the like



Oct. 28, 1930. J. H.

BURNETT REGISTERING DEVICE FOR SPONGES AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 3, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l TERILE F AIN 5 IINIIEIIEEU DISCARD PLAIN III TAPEII Igggmm U I E Til.

JANE/v rm Oct. 28, 1930. J. H. BURNETT 1,779,874

REGISTERING DEVICE FOR SPONGES AND THE LIKE 4 Filed Oct. 3, 1927' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l sts-sited Oct. 28, 193i? UNITE STATES PATENT FFICE REGISTERING DEVECE FOB SPONGES AND THE LIKE Application filed October 3, 1327.

This invention relates to improvements in registering means and more particularly to improvements in registering ap )aratus for hospitals and the like in connection with the use of ponges in an operation and the objects of the invention are to provide simply constructed, durable and presentable apparatus oi this description manually operable to regist-er and indicate the number of spon used in operations.

The invention consists essentially of a display board with vertically spaced s ts therein parallel with which are a series of numbers begnning at the top with one and in which are designed to fit toothed bars having thereon and brought through the slots and oper able from without the slots, 'iidicators to register the number of sponges as they are discarded so that none may be left unnoticed in the wound during an operation. The numbers and printing may be in colours on the chart which is in the term of a board and preferably made of white enamel zinc. It may also be made of any other suitable material and conveniently suspended.

Referring now to the drawings in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the chart board.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 o1 Figure 1.

Figure 3 Figure 1.

Figure l. is an enlarged sectional detail of is a section on the line 33 of the movable indicator.

Referring now more particularly to the orawin in which a preferred example of the invention is disclosed, A indicates the register as a whole comprising a casing havi a metal board face plate of any suitable form and here shown as substantially rectangular with suitable indicia thereon, the present invention being adapted to register the number of sponges used and after they are discarded in operations in hospitals.

In this metal face plate of the casing A are a plurality of vertically spaced slots 10, 11, 12 and 13 allocated, in the present example oi my invention, for sterile plain and taped Serial No. 223,814.

sponges and discarded plain and taped sponges with superimposed numerals from 1 to 30 in vertical alignment therewith, the numerals for sterile and discarded sponges, respectively, being in different colours. filhin the slots are l Xedly mounted bars 1-l (see Figure preferably of nickel plated steel and fitting into the holes at oacl" end as at These bars are intermediately toothed or notched as at 16. The fiat back 1/ ot the is parallel with the back of the board and the toothed portion 16 registers with the slots in the heard.

On these bars is slidahly moruited the indicator 18 comprising a flat body portion 19 embracing the bars and having arranged therein roll s 20 to engage with the smooth back of the J whereby the indicator readily travels upwardly and downwardly on the bars. Integral with the body portion is a protruding handle 21 and pivotally mounted at 22 within the body portion is a second handle 23 formed with an extension 24- adapted to engage with the teeth 1b of the bar. This second handle retains the indicator in inoperative position after being moved and is spring pressed apart from the handle 21 by a coil spring 26. The rigid handle and the pivotally mounted handle term in combination what may be termed a clip handle so that when they are pressed together by the linger and thumb of the operator the indicrtor is free to move upwardly or downwardly on the bar.

In this way an indicator may be set on one 8 of the bars indicating the number of plain sponges in use and the number of taped sponges. Then as the sponges are discarded the other indicators are individually operated. For instance when one plain sponge is discarded the indicator in the plain slot will be moved down to the numeral 1 and when a taped sponge is discarded the indicator in the slot for taper. sponges will be moved, and so on, so that at the end of the operation the totals of the discarded sponges on being compared with the totals of sponges in use should agree with the total sponges in use less those remaining unused or it say twenty are actually used in an operation the total discards should equal twenty.

The indicators, as will be understood, are manually operated and are moved after each sponge is discarded thereby providing a reliable indication of the sponges used and ensuring that none are left in the wounds.

The numerals onthe board are of contrasting colours such as blue and red so as to differentiate between the sterile sponges a-nd the discarded sponges, the numerals in the sterile column being blue and in the discard column red. Any other contrasting colours, however,

may be used.

For suspending the board lugs 27 are provided on the upper end of the back of the board 28 whereby the board is conveniently placed in any part of the operating room.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently Widely different embodiments of: my invention, within the scope of the claim, construct ed without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is'intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification-and drawings shallbe interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 7 7

hat I claim as my invention is r In a registering device for sponges and the like, the combination with a casing formed 7 with'a face plate provided with a series of spaced longitudinal slots formed'with clownwardly-depending flanges on the sides and ends thereof, of a series of bars housed in the longitudinal slots and carried by the end flanges, the outer portion of the bars provided with notchesand the inner surface bebody portion straddling the bars and provided with rollers for slidable engagement therewith, a protruding handle integral with the body portion, a pivotally mounted springheld handle associated with the protruding handle and provided with an integral extension normally retained in engagement with the notches on said bars by the spring, whereby on the spring-held handle being operated the indicator is manually slidable on said bar. r

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMESINA HENDERSON BURNETT.

ing relatively smooth, and a series of indicators adapted to slide on the bars comprlsinga r 

